1. Activities/Accomplishments of the U.S. GOOS Steering Committee
Mark Luther and Worth Nowlin
SECOORA Workshop
Sept. 12, 2006

2. History of USGSC
The U.S. GOOS Steering Committee was formed in 1998 at the request of Dr. D. James Baker, Jr., Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere at NOAA, on behalf of interested Federal agencies. The group was requested to help in the development of information concerning options on how to match the needs of user groups with the observations and products required to meet those needs, addressing what is working well, what is not working well, the impediments we face at present, and the opportunities we face for the future.

3. History of USGSC
The first meeting of the U.S. GSC was held 16 December 1998 in Washington, DC.
Reviewed the history of the Saxton/Weldon request and discussed response
Original U.S. GOOS Steering Committee members: T. Malone, W. Nowlin, C. Cooper, L. Crowder, M. Davidson, L. Fu, E. Harrison, J. Hindle, J. Mjelde, R. Molinari, Z. Powell, and S. Weisberg.
Other Attendees: D. J. Baker (NOAA), M. Cole (NOAA), M. Johnson (NOAA), P. Pan (EPA)

4. US GSC Membership Chair Worth Nowlin Texas A&M University
Vice-Chair Mark Luther University of South Florida
Vice-Chair Stephen Weisberg California Coastal Water Research Project Authority
Bob Cohen Weathernews
Charlie Colgan University of Southern Maine
Margaret Davidson Coastal Services Center, NOAA
Brian Dorsch Marine Services & Consulting
Frederick Grassle Rutgers University
Ed Harrison NOAA/PMEL
Paul Kelly Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Task Force
Phil Mundy NOAA/NMFS
Jeffrey Reutter Director, Ohio Sea Grant College Program
Evan Richert State of Maine/USM
Liaison to Ocean.US Tom Malone Ocean.US Office

5. Accomplishments of the USGSC
Assist in the preparation of key documents for the development of the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS).
Nowlin and Malone report
Frosch report
Ten-year Implementation Plan for Building a Sustained Ocean Observing System for Climate prepared by the Office of Global Programs
Report of the Ocean.US Workshop (Airlie House).
These reports provided the basis for establishment of the Ocean.US Office and for development of a plan for the U.S. IOOS.

6. USGSC Activities
Prepare a strategy for development of the U.S. coastal ocean observing system.
Provide “suggestions” to the federal agencies involved in development of the U.S. IOOS, especially working through the Ocean.US Office.
Work with nascent regional associations to aid in the development of observing systems that conform to GOOS design principles.

7. USGSC Activities
Identify users and assess products needed from the coastal component of the U.S. ocean observing system. Assign priorities to users and products. This has been done on a regional basis; initial assessments have been made for U.S. Coastal regions..
Maintain awareness of draft and pending national legislation bearing directly on the development of a U.S. IOOS. Provide inputs as feasible.

8. USGSC Activities
Enhance awareness by users and government representatives of activities related to the development of the U.S. IOOS. A Communications Subcommittee was formed and encouraged the development of a Communication Plan for the IOOS and the hiring of a professional communicator for the Ocean.US Office.

9. USGSC Activities
Encourage pilot projects to further the evolution of observing system elements.
Maintain an inventory of studies of the economic benefits of a GOOS and promote/encourage additional assessments. Studies of the economic benefits of regional coastal observing systems in U.S. waters are of special interest.
Assist with the preparations for the Arlie House Workshop and the follow-up report, particularly budgetary requirements.

10. USGSC Activities
Encourage Ocean.US to adopt an Implementation Plan. Prepared a draft plan.
Encourage the NOAA Administrator to provide additional support to the U.S. contribution to the global (climate and marine services) module of GOOS. Provide reviews of documents related to this module.
Suggest and advocate for the formation of a National Federation of Regional Associations. Created concept of RA’s and NFRA, Drafted IOOS Resolution, organized Summit

11. Why should USGSC continue?
Provide “unbiased neutral counsel”* for IOOS entities, both federal and non-federal – no other group has this charge
Insure coordination with international GOOS activities
Provide Corporate memory, continuity
Non-FACA – More flexibility
* D. Martin, Personal Communication

12. Highlights of US GSC XII Feb. 8-10, 2006, CSC
Updates on RA’s, NFRA, Federal Legislation, Ocean.US, Private Sector activities, Global Module of IOOS
Discussion on what remains to be done to help move IOOS forward
Overview of National Water Quality Monitoring Network for U.S. Coastal Waters and Their Tributaries
Report on IOOS Public Health Workshop, January 2006

13. Major foci for the future
Defining the National Backbone
Building a North American GOOS Regional Alliance
Re-orient IOOS focus on products rather than observations Enhance U.S. participation in the global component of GOOS
Defining the role of the U.S. GSC in IOOS Education and Outreach

14. New Initiative
Develop straw plan for IOOS focusing on 3 areas: Coastal Inundation/Disaster Resilience; Marine Operations; Public Health; to build upon Implementation Plan
Will convene “expert teams” in each area
Straw plans will be merged and given to RA’s and Federal Agencies for review
How can this activity be coordinated with/contribute to IOOS-RFQ development?

15. Next meeting Sept. 13-14, 2006 Major topics:
Future structure, leadership of USGSC
Development of Global GOOS
Developing the IOOS within the Federal government
Regional Development of the Coastal component of the IOOS
An initial design for the U.S. Coastal IOOS
IOOS Education and Outreach

16. Options for the future
Remain independent – would allow maximum flexibility but must find stable source of funding
Become subcommittee of ORRAP – would provide stable funding but would limit activity
Become subcommittee of Ocean Studies Board – stable funding but potentially more restrictive

18. Alliance for Coastal Technologies Ocean Observing System
Partner Institutions
University of Alaska
University of Michigan
Cooperative Institute for
Limnology & Ecosystems Research
Gulf of Maine
Ocean Observing System
Moss Landing
Marine Laboratories
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Research Institute
Skidaway Institute
of Oceanography